E-Access Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 7741
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Energy
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-02-26: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-01T08:09:20Z
AI-Generated Summary
Access to Consumer Energy Information Act (E-Access Act) - H.R. 7741
Purpose
The legislation aims to boost competition in digital tools for managing energy, improve consumers' access to their own electric and natural gas usage data, and support new products/services that help consumers, organizations, and governments reduce energy use while enhancing electric grid reliability.
Key Provisions
- Definitions: Establishes clear terms, such as retail electric energy information (usage data, prices, billing details, grid-edge insights like voltage/current, and customer info) and retail natural gas information (similar for gas); Green Button Connect My Data (a standard for secure data sharing); grid edge computer (device measuring electricity near a customer's premises that runs apps for real-time analysis).
- State Energy Plan Updates: Adds requirements for states to include programs promoting digital energy tool competition in their energy conservation plans.
- Federal Guidelines: Within 180 days, the Secretary of Energy and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) must jointly issue model standards for sharing consumer energy data. Guidelines cover:
- Timely, machine-readable access (real-time where practical, 24 months historical) via websites/apps, free of charge.
- Privacy protections (e.g., DOE's DataGuard program) and user-friendly consent for third-party access.
- Nondiscriminatory terms for third parties (basic info like tax ID and privacy compliance; no excessive requirements).
- Adoption of open standards like Green Button (99% uptime, periodic certification).
- Fair rules for electric meter software platforms (transparent terms, no self-preferencing by utilities).
- Public reporting on data-sharing performance.
- State Certification and Funding: States can submit policies for DOE certification; certified states get implementation aid ($10 million authorized for FY2026).
- Guidelines Review: Updated every 3 years for tech/privacy/market changes.
- Wholesale Market Report: Joint DOE-FERC report within 1 year analyzing costs/benefits of using individual meter data for settling wholesale electricity prices, including demand response participation and reliability gains.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends Section 362(d) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (1975) by adding a new paragraph (18), requiring state energy plans to promote digital energy competition, consumer data access, and efficiency/demand-response programs.
- Introduces first-of-its-kind federal guidelines for standardized, nationwide energy data access, building on voluntary standards like Green Button but making them model policy for states/utilities.
Potential Impacts
- Citizens/Consumers: Easier access to personal energy data enables apps/tools for tracking usage, cutting bills, and joining efficiency programs; boosts privacy-aware innovation without extra costs.
- Utilities: Must provide secure data sharing, adopt standards, and report performance; may face costs for meter upgrades but gain from demand-response participation.
- Government Agencies: DOE/FERC develop/enforce guidelines and certify states; limited funding supports implementation. States get incentives for compliance.
- Electric Grid: Potential reliability improvements via better demand management and wholesale market settlement using real meter data.
- No direct international relations impacts.
Main Stakeholders
- Consumers: Electric and gas customers (residential/commercial) gaining data access.
- Utilities: Electric/gas companies required to share data and adopt platforms/standards.
- Third Parties: App developers, energy service providers, and demand-response aggregators accessing data with consent.
- Government: DOE (guidelines, certification, funding), FERC (joint role), state energy offices/regulators, NIST/FTC (consulted on standards/privacy).
- Grid Operators: Independent System Operators (ISOs) and Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs) benefiting from meter data in wholesale markets.
- Advocates: Privacy groups, building owners, contractors.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Privacy/Legal: Emphasizes consent, due process for third-party disputes, and anti-reidentification methods (e.g., differential privacy) for public aggregate data; aligns with existing utility regs but mandates nondiscrimination to prevent anticompetitive barriers.
- Federalism: Relies on state adoption/voluntary certification rather than mandates, respecting state regulatory authority over retail utilities.
- No major constitutional issues identified; promotes competition without overriding private property rights in meters/software.
- Political: Bipartisan introduction (Reps. Mullin, Levin); focuses on innovation/efficiency amid grid reliability concerns, with built-in stakeholder consultation to build consensus.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (4)
Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49], Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6], Rep. Goodlander, Maggie [D-NH-2], Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2]
Recent Actions
- 2026-02-26: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 2026-02-26: Introduced in House
- 2026-02-26: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Access to Consumer Energy Information Act — issued 2026-02-26 — PDF (22 pages)